Wednesdays: April 2, 16, 23, and 30
Location: Shrine Room
Suggested donation: $20/public; $15/members per class
There are countless types of meditation. Many are thousands of years old. This class will teach two older types which are widely practiced today: Shamantha (calm abiding) and Vipassana (insight). Both of these have countless benefits. A stable daily Shamantha practice is necessary before moving on to Vipassana, although many people only practice Shamantha. Any daily meditation practice is better than none and is a very beneficial life-long activity. This class is for both beginners and current practitioners. Sitting (meditating) in a group is very powerful. If you have wanted to learn meditation, the time is NOW! If you need motivation to do a daily practice, this is your opportunity. We do not know which will come first, tomorrow or our next life! It is never too early to start meditation but it can often be too late. Venerable Lekshay recommends reading Zen Mind, Beginners Mind by Shunryu Suzuki and Breath by Breath by Larry Rosenberg.
Please wear loose and comfortable clothing. Beginners: please bring some rolled up fluffy socks for knee support.
Venerable Lekshay Sangpo studied Zen Buddhism for 20 years. He saw the Dalai Lama in Seattle in 1993 and became a Tibetan Buddhist after finding Dagchen Rinpoche in 1994. He has been a student of H.H. ever since. He received his getsul (novice) vows in 2001 and his gelung (Bhikshu) vows in 2004, both from H.E. Chogye Trichen Rinpoche in Nepal. He has been living and teaching monks at Tharlam Monastery in Nepal five to six months every year since 2000. He has been able to receive many teachings from all the high Sakya lamas during the past 10 years.